Pokémon: Trainer Paul

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

Near a waterfall, a reddish-brown figure kept passing by the river bank, moving with ghostly speed. Its six unique tails gleamed as they suddenly turned metallic, slamming against a massive boulder.

Boom!

The collision sent fragments of stone flying as cracks spread across the surface under the force of Iron Tail.

Over the past few days of training, Vulpix had learned to skillfully manipulate its tails. Through the repeated pain of striking rocks, it gradually mastered the move Iron Tail.

While Iron Tail might not be considered an outstanding move in the games, in reality, it proved to be quite practical.

Additionally, under the combined training of Quick Attack and Extrasensory along with Paul's guidance, Vulpix successfully learned Agility, officially retiring Quick Attack from its arsenal.

As for moves like Sunny Day and Gravity, continuous use had made them increasingly refined. Its mental strength and control had also improved significantly.

During its downtime, thanks to Turtwig's patient teaching Vulpix's ability to sense solar energy became more pronounced. It seemed only a matter of time before it could master Solar Beam—a powerful weapon against Rock- and Water-type Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Turtwig focused on perfecting its Growth training and honing its use of Ingrain.

Its Absorb move after sustained practice had unexpectedly evolved into the more advanced Giga Drain.

Under the waterfall, with its growth enhanced by abundant nutrients, a favorable environment and its Overgrow ability, Turtwig's body had grown noticeably larger and sturdier.

Though the changes seemed subtle, but the progress it had made was astonishing.

As for Elekid, it had fully embraced its potential under Paul's guidance.

Using Magnet Rise, it darted through the waterfall under the effects of Gravity, unbothered by the interference of external forces. The rigorous training helped to strengthen its body while significantly improving its control.

However, compared to the other Pokémon, Elekid's progress was relatively modest.

"How are Ursaring and Gible's training sessions coming along?"

By the river, Paul balanced a phone between his head and shoulder as he spoke with Reggie. A small like mountain of Magikarp lay in front of him, while his hands were busy—one holding a Pokédex, and the other hand held a Magikarp by the tail for scanning.

For most Pokémon, he needed to recall them into their Poké Balls to accurately evaluate their abilities. But with Magikarp, there was no need for such measures.

Magikarp's move pool was notoriously limited. Paul simply scanned their height and other physical data, then made his judgments based on careful observation.

"Ursaring is doing well. It learned Taunt and Stomp, and it's progressing with Fire Punch—now capable of generating flames strong enough to harm itself."

"It's getting closer to using the flames to inflict burns on others, but learning Endure will take more time."

"As for Gible..."

Reggie's warm tone carried a hint of cheerfulness, but when he mentioned Gible, there was a noticeable shift to a more serious note.

"I've taught it Stone Edge and Draco Meteor. Its Rough Skin ability has been refined with Drapion's acupuncture techniques and my adjustments allowing it to control the ability at will."

"For Dragon Dance, I've arranged for it to learn from several Pokémon proficient in the move. While it seems capable of understanding, it'll take a while before it fully masters it."

"Once Gible learns Dragon Dance, send it over to me." Paul replied, deep in thought.

After scanning the Magikarp in his hand, he tossed it aside and gave Vulpix a subtle nod.

"Vul~"

Vulpix immediately halted its training and used Extrasensory to lift all the Magikarp, tossing them back into the river. A soft plop echoed as the Pokémon disappeared beneath the water's surface.

"Thank you for the update. I'll consult with a breeder specializing in Dragon Dance training to speed up Gible's progress. Take care of yourself."

"Will do, little brother."

Ending the call, Paul watched the retreating Magikarp with a sigh.

While Magikarp were abundant, finding one with exceptional potential was rare. The Gyarados he had captured in Oreburgh City was already among the best of its kind.

Only those with outstanding talent could evolve into a formidable Gyarados.

Still, Magikarp were the easiest Water-types to catch, so Paul continued searching for one that could match the potential of his team.

"Hey, kid! Are these Pokémon yours?"

A deep voice suddenly called out from behind.

"Yes, they are."

Paul turned to see a stocky man in mountaineering gear with a large backpack. Responding politely, he introduced himself.

"My name is Ueno. I'm a mountaineer exploring the mysterious areas of the Sinnoh region."

"Paul. A trainer through journey to grow stronger."

After a brief introduction, Ueno glanced at Paul's Pokémon and spoke with interest.

"Your Pokémon look well-trained. Interested in joining me on an expedition nearby?"

Paul frowned slightly. While he wasn't averse to exploration, he was more drawn to the idea of discovering powerful and mysterious Pokémon rather than sightseeing.

"I've heard there's a cave in the forest near the waterfall." Ueno explained, pointing to a distant mountain across the river. "It's said to be deep and mysterious, with many rare and powerful Pokémon inside. It'd be safer to explore together."

The mention of "powerful" and "mysterious" piqued Paul's interest.

Despite having captured many Pokémon during his travels, he still hadn't filled his team of six—necessary for participating in the League.

After some thought, Paul shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I prefer to explore alone. I'll head there once my training is done."

"That's a shame." Ueno replied, disappointed. "Having a partner makes expeditions safer and more enjoyable."

"But let me warn you—exploring can lead to thrilling surprises or turn out to be a mundane affair. Be prepared for anything."

"Thanks for the advice."

Paul nodded, determined to see the cave for himself—not for the adventure, but for the chance to discover strong Pokémon.

Unlike caves in other regions, Sinnoh's were home to a wider variety of Pokémon. Beyond the usual Rock- and Ground-types, Fighting, Psychic, Steel, Water, and Flying-types could also be found.

In such a remote and untouched area, the chances of encountering Pokémon with exceptional potential were much higher.

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